Winter Round Square Conference

There was incredible energy at Ashbury in February as we hosted the Winter Round Square Conference with the theme “Living the North.” We welcomed delegates from Australia, Colombia, Canada, the United States, Kenya, and Romania.

Conference delegates discovered what it means to live in winter weather and enjoy experiences on ice and snow. They learned about the North and Canada’s Arctic from the perspective of Indigenous, political, and environmental voices. Keynote speakers sparked intriguing and engaging discussions about climate change, Arctic sovereignty, and the shared stewardship of a fragile ecosystem with excep- tional biodiversity. The conference featured a variety of winter sports and activities that brought the community together. Ashbury families billeted our guests, and delegates experienced activities that included a 2-night stay at the Chateau Montebello resort, an Ottawa Senators hockey game, a snow-themed dance and more.

Thank you to all staff and student organizers, parent volunteers and billet families for supporting our guests during this engaging and enjoyable conference. The topics discussed opened new doors for learning about the Arctic and its peoples. They shed light on how the North concerns all of us in our interconnected world. AN

About Round Square

Round Square is an internationally diverse network of 200 like-minded schools in 50 countries on six continents that connect and collaborate to offer world-class programmes and experiences, developing global competence, character and confidence in our students. Round Square schools are like-minded in their shared understanding of the link between character education and academic success. Round Square network offers exchanges, service trips and Conferences to engage students in activities that develop global citizenship.

Round Square schools share a commitment to character education and experiential learning built around six themes – our IDEALS – International Understanding, Democracy, Environmental Stewardship, Adventure, Leadership and Service.